Tacrolimus Ointment Effective for Nickel-Induced Atopic Dermatitis

Tacrolimus Ointment Effective for Nickel-Induced Atopic Dermatitis: "July 28, 2006 � Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment suppresses signs and symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis among individuals who are sensitive to nickel and who continue to be exposed to this metal, a new study shows.
The investigators used nickel as a model of chronic allergic contact dermatitis. 'Theoretically, since the mechanism of action is the same,' tacrolimus ointment would be effective in allergic contact dermatitis induced by other compounds, Dr. Donald Belsito from the University of Missouri in Kansas City told Reuters Health.
Allergic contact dermatitis � characterized by inflammation, erythema, pruritus, and blistering � is one of the most common occupationally related conditions in the US, costing an estimated $1 billion annually due to lost work, reduced productivity, medical care and disability payments.
Nickel induces allergic reactions in roughly 5.8% of the US population, making it an appropriate model for studying allergic contact dermatitis.
In the July Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Belsito and colleagues from several other US institutions report the efficacy results for 91 patients and safety results for 97 patients who received tacrolimus 0.1% ointment of the treatment of nickel-induced allergic contact dermatitis.
The subjects, who were 17 years of age or older and had a history of patch test-confirmed nickel allergy, applied a thin layer of tacrolimus ointment to the upper inner aspect of one arm and an inactive control ointment to the other arm twice daily. The study subjects were then randomized to a nickel-containing patch or a vehicle ointment patch for 4 to 8 hours each day.
Tacrolimus ointment proved significantly more effective than vehicle control in ameliorating signs and symptoms of nickel-induced allergic contact dermatit"